Barack Obama touches down for Stonehenge visit

President Obama stops off for a tourist visit to Stonehenge in Wiltshire on
the way home from the NATO summit in Wales

President Obama carved out time on Friday to play tourist, stopping at Stonehenge before flying back to Washington after attending a NATO summit in Wales.

"How cool is this?" he remarked while being led on a guided tour of the ancient stone circle tucked into the rolling green Wiltshire landscape.

The sightseeing stop meant Mr Obama would get back to the White House about an hour later than originally scheduled, but the president was all smiles.

Mr Obama had removed his suit jacket to walk among the massive stones in apparent awe.

Stonehenge was built in three phases between 3000 BC and 1600 BC. Archaeologists agree it was a temple - but to which gods, and exactly how it was used, remains unclear. The monument is on UNESCO's World Heritage List.